Colts Neck Township Committee moves into closed session citing potential litigation

At a special meeting, the Colts Neck Township Committee voted to enter a closed executive session to discuss potential litigation, the committee chair said.

Mayor Viola read a resolution invoking the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act and saying the committee would exclude the public from discussion of "potential litigation" and that discussions would remain confidential. "The committee will not be taking any action during closed executive session," Mayor Viola said, and added, "It's anticipated that the session will last approximately 90 minutes." The administrator read the public-notice language before the resolution was offered: "Notice requirements of the New Jersey public meetings law have been satisfied by noticing the Asbury Park Press and the 2 River Times on 05/11/2026," the administrator said, and stated that a copy of the notice is on file with the township clerk.

Committee members opened the public-comment period and, seeing no members of the public come forward, closed it without public remarks. Committeewoman Buss and Deputy Mayor Buscetta were recorded present during roll call; the administrator confirmed a quorum. The committee then moved, seconded and recorded a voice vote to go into executive session under "NJSA 10:4-12b" (as read aloud) and related subsections cited in the resolution. The public portion of the meeting was adjourned so the committee could meet in closed session.

The presiding official told any viewers that the committee "will not be coming out of executive to do any business" in public. The committee announced a next meeting time of Wednesday at 6:30; the transcript does not make the meeting date explicit.

No substantive public decisions, votes on ordinances, or legislative actions were taken in public during this session; the resolution states discussions are confidential and that no action would be taken in the closed session.